Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The griots are above all professionals who represent as a group, a well-defined social caste. Their role is multifaceted: as historians and genealogists, they are the chief repositories of the history of a region, its designated chroniclers. As musicians, their presence was traditionally required at all celebrations and rituals. Although the griot caste is among the lowest in the social hierarchy...griots are nevertheless much admired for their talent, and they can make a great deal of money. Among them, one find the most virtuosic of singers and instrumentalists. Their education and training, exclusively oral, necessitates a lenghty apprenticeship under the direction of a teacher-most often the father, or an uncle. It is necessary to study for many years in order to master the technique of an instrument or to learn all the songs and histories, and master the ensemble work indispensable to the activities of the professional. Some griots are more or less sedentary, and their renown is confined to the limits of their village or territory. (In this case, the griot will also work at another job: fisherman, farmer, etc.) Other griots are itinerants, and their reputation and income can vary considerably.

The husband-to-be brings cola beans to the family of the wife-to-be, and then goes off somewhere else. This is apparently always the procedure: the couple to be wedded are never present at the festivities. So also here. The men are somewhere else, and all the women are gathered to distribute the cola nuts. The griots sing pretty words about different people at the party, who then stick money in their hands.

Griot term is said to derive from the French translation of "guiriot" of the Portuguese word "criado," which means "servant." In the local African languages, griots are referred to by a number of names: jeli in northern Mande areas, jali in southern Mande areas, guewel in Wolof, gawlo in Pulaar (Fula), and igiiw (or igawen) in Hassaniyya Arabic. Griots form an endogamous caste, meaning that most of them only marry fellow griots and that those who are not griots do not normally perform the same functions that they perform.

Griots either sing or speak

West African aristocrats patronized griots, a group that belongs to an endogamous caste of historians, musicians, praise-singers, and mediators. Their accomplishments include a body of epics, legends, and lyrical songs; sophisticated and virtuosic instrumental and vocal traditions; and detailed oral histories sometimes going back a thousand years. West Africans today know the names of such kings and warriors as Sunjata Keïta, Kelefa Sané, Albouri Ndiaye, and Omar Tall because all of these figures had griots who composed laudatory songs and histories about them that subsequent griots have passed down to us today. As modern political and economic systems replaced the aristocratic systems of pre-colonial days, griots found patronage in the general public and their art became popularized. Thus, whereas the most famous pre-colonial griots were royal heralds, court entertainers, and praise-singers, the most famous griots today are recording artists, television announcers, and stage actors.

Traditionally, griots' most important functions centered on the arts of speaking. Griots' supernatural facility with words makes them indispensable at all important social functions. Their nearly unlimited verbal license gives griots not only a unique power to influence and exploit, but also a deep-rooted stigma.

Many Senegalese find the places, values, and personalities of griotism foreign and irrelevant. Griots who have preserved their vocation as performers and artists have consequently adapted their art, emphasizing the art of entertainment above the traditional art of the word. This is not to say that griots have by any means abandoned their verbal function; however, other functions less salient to the traditional identity of griots have begun to rival and often to surpass the importance of words. Griots' principal occupation now is the art of song, and perhaps the most commonly recognized mark of a griot today is an obsession with money.

An equal force to reckon with in the competitive international fashion modeling industry.Millen Magese hails from Tanzania and is signed to Ford Models in New York and Ice Model Management South Africa.

THE ANATOMY OF AN AFRICA FASHION CAT WALK MODEL

Real Name: Happiness Millen Magese

Break through: Became Miss Tanzania 2001

Height: 1.79

Bust: 32B

Waist 61

Hips 90

Shoe: 7

Hair: Dark Brown

Eye: Brown

Setting the stage: First African woman as the 'face' of the Ralph Lauren Campaign

Millen Magese is one of the stunning and elegant fashion models Africa has produced.

If you shop at Macy's you may have seen this photo below under the Ralph Lauren women clothing category.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Passion, patience, and perfection are the three things that come to mind when viewing the breath taking and stunning photos by Michael Poliza. I am a great fan of Michael's picturesque work. He possesses the unique ability to capture stunning images with such skill and grace. Michael Poliza's work serves as constant reminder of the true beauty that is Africa, ever so rich and diverse.

For the lovers of beautiful photography on Africa, and Michael Poliza's work his publishers Teneues are giving away some goodies! Here is your chance to enter and win a FREE Michael Poliza book:www.teneues.com/poliza/contest There you can enter his Twitter contest to win one of his books. Just capture what one of his photos means to you in a tweet, and win your very own Poliza book.

Michael Poliza has been around the world providing us with breath taking aerial views above multiple fascinating continents. From Africa to Antarctica he has never escaped a chance to share his view of the world with all of us.

When the New York Times reviewed Michael Poliza’s first book on Africa, the writer said, “it might change the way you think about photography.” Poliza is a man accustomed to raising the bar: from actor to entrepreneur, expedition leader, tourism consultant and professional photographer, he has lived a varied and adventurous life, excelling in all of these wildly diverse environments. Poliza has lived multiple lives forming his lens on the world. His ambition led him around the globe more than once, photographing several of these expeditions. Michael Poliza’s first coffee table book focused on the journeys and discoveries of the Starship Millennium Voyage. Quickly becoming a bestseller, it sold more than 50,000 copies. Michael was one of the pioneering photographers to embrace digital photography, and his Starship book was the very first coffee table book to carry more than 50% digital content.

That expedition over, he returned to the continent that had stolen his heart: Africa. His book by that name was released to massive acclaim around the world in July 2006. Published by art photography specialists teNeues (www.teneues.com), this was one of the most talked-about photography titles of the time and was voted one of “The Best Coffee-Table Books of 2006” by ABC-TV’s Good Morning America.

Following his stunning photo-safari in Africa and an unprecedented helicopter voyage from Europe to Africa in Eyes over Africa, the award-winning photographer ventured to the Polar Regions. There he captured photos of the frozen paradise for his book Antarctic, a tribute to life in the Polar Regions. After his time in Antarctica he returned to Hamberg opening his own gallery and the Michael Poliza Photography enterprise.

In December 2009 he was named as an ambassador of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Unable to stay away from Africa for too long, Poliza returned to capture first hand the opportunity to celebrate the first ever World Cup on African soil. So a new plan was quickly hatched: head back to South Africa for just a few months. Leading to a new coffee table book for 2010: SOUTH AFRICA.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka was born in 1965 Dobsonville in Soweto. Yvonne Chaka Chaka grew up in a humble family. Her father passed away when she was 11. Her Mother became the sole provider and struggled to bring three daughters with the little income she made as a domestic worker.When asked who she admired most, Chaka Chaka said "My mother because she has always been there for me. My mother raised three daughters single-handedly on a domestic worker's salary. That took great courage and strength. She is my mentor and hero. When I was born in 1965 in Soweto, it was during apartheid, and those were extremely difficult times. My dad was a great musician who could never realize his dream. He died when I was 11 years old. I inherited my talent from both parents, so music has always been in my blood. When I was little I would strum an empty tin and blow into a broom stick pretending it was a microphone. I sang in church choirs. I loved singing. I am blessed that I achieved my destiny, and been able to accomplish what my father could not."

Yvonne became the first Black child to appear on South African television when in 1981 "Sugar Shack", a talent show, introduced her to the South African public.

Dubbed the "Princess of Africa", Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 20 years. Some of her most famous songs include "I'm Burning Up", "I'm in Love With a DJ", "I Cry for Freedom", "Makoti", "Motherland" and the ever-popular "Umqombothi" ("African Beer"). Yvonne has won numerous awards and accolades and graced various magazines. She has shared the stage with megastars such as Bono, Youssou N'Dour , the classic rock band Queen, and South Africans Johnny Clegg, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela, to name a few. Yvonne has performed for HRM Queen Elizabeth, US President Bill Clinton, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and a host of other world leaders. As a young performer Yvonne was the first Black child to appear on South African television in 1981.

In 1989 she created her own company, Chaka Chaka Promotions. In 1995 she created her own music label, Chaka Chaka Music. Since then every album Yvonne has released has been on her own label. She has two diplomas from the University of South Africa, one in adult education, another in local government, management and administration. Her business ventures include companies in the Information Technology sector; Energy and Minerals sectors; Human Resource Development focused on adult training; and Sandown Motors, a luxury motor vehicle retailer . Yvonne's energy and enthusiasm is boundless. She has become a hero and mentor to others, a willing warrior and agent for change in enormous proportions. Considered a role model throughout the African continent, she has demonstrated compassion for others throughout her career.

Yvonne actively promotes the rights of women, and the protection of Children. She is a Trustee of Tomorrow Trust, which educated orphans and vulnerable children. Yvonne Chaka Chaka is also UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador against malaria, and also Ambassador for Roll-Back Malaria (sponsored by the World Bank, United Nations, World Health Organization, and other institutions). She also founded and runs her own charity the Princess of Africa Foundation.

One of her favourite male mentor and father figure is Nelson Mandela. Mandela who fondly refers to Yvonne as his dear daughter once stated, “It is what we make of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another. Yvonne, you are a testament to my belief. You have made all of South Africa proud to claim you as a national icon. You have motivated millions of women and men on our continent. Your generosity has benefited untold numbers of families and orphans facing the challenges of AIDS, terminal illness, abuse, poverty, and illiteracy. I know you will always make your indelible mark wherever you go, and with what ever you do. There is no stopping you! You will always be my Princess of Africa.”

Yvonne Chaka Chaka with husband and family

The men in her life

Yvonne Chaka Chaka with hubby Dr Mandlalele Mhinga

Her philosophy is, “When we are born we come with nothing. And when we die, we die with nothing. So every day I wake up and say, ‘God thank you for the life that you have given me. I take nothing for granted. I love living, I love life, and I live it to the fullest.'”

In Greek legend the goddess Clytemnestra said, “We are the instruments of Heaven. Our work is not design, but destiny.” African icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka is living her destiny, and those who understand her message are enriched by it.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Amsale Aberra's career as a couture bridal and eveningwear designer happened by necessity. While planning her 1985 nuptials to film executive Neil Brown, Amsale scoured the stores to find a simple, refined wedding dress. She found little in the way of clean, sophisticated gowns, and discovered an untapped niche in the bridal market—elegant and understated dresses.

"Everything was so overdone and with too much ornamentation," says Amsale, who was sure that her taste in gowns was shared by many other brides-to-be. Amsale placed a classified advertisement for custom-made gowns for other brides-to-be who shared her taste in sophisticated, understated designs. And so, with a few responses, a sketchpad full of designs, and a small team of couture sewers, Amsale started her business out of her New York City loft apartment.

Since then, the name AMSALE (pronounced Ahm-sah'-leh) has become synonymous with the "forever modern" wedding dress. Her collections are designed for brides who desire a fashionable, sophisticated and timeless look. Amsale believes: "Twenty years after the wedding, I want a bride to be able to look at her pictures and be as happy with the way she looked as she was on her wedding day."

“In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire.”Amsale Aberra

Amsale’s love of fashion began as a young girl growing up in Ethiopia. However, Amsale never considered becoming a designer: “In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire.”

Amsale convinced her parents to allow her to leave Ethiopia in order to study commercial art in New England. While in school a revolution broke out in her native country, which forced Amsale to stay in the United States to support herself and complete her undergraduate education at University of Massachusetts – Boston through a number of odd-jobs. With limited financial resources, Amsale admits “I would design and sew my own clothes because I couldn’t afford to buy new things. That’s when I first thought of becoming a fashion designer.”

Amsale left Boston, enrolled in New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and began her career as a design assistant for Harve Bernard upon graduation. Two years later, Amsale launched her custom bridal-gown business.

Amsale's love of fashion began as a young girl growing up in Ethiopia. However, Amsale never considered becoming a designer: "In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire."

Amsale convinced her parents to allow her to leave Ethiopia in order to study commercial art in New England. While in school a revolution broke out in her native country, which forced Amsale to stay in the United States to support herself and complete her undergraduate education at University of Massachusetts - Boston through a number of odd-jobs. With limited financial resources, Amsale admits "I would design and sew my own clothes because I couldn't afford to buy new things. That's when I first thought of becoming a fashion designer."

Amsale left Boston, enrolled in New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and began her career as a design assistant for Harve Bernard upon graduation. Two years later, Amsale launched her custom bridal-gown business with her "forever modern" approach to sophisticated design.

Amsale's design philosophy has redefined the perception of the timeless wedding gown. Her innovative twists to time honored hallmarks of the traditional wedding gown—reintroducing "illusion design," modern updates of the traditional bustle, and tasteful color accents including the now-famous "blue sash" gown—have become so popular among prospective brides that they have been recognized as modern classics.

Amsale Aberra

She extends that viewpoint of individuality to her collection of chic and refined gowns for the bridal party, and in the Amsale Evening collection of couture evening wear—both lines a natural progression from the sophisticated and modern styles of her bridal collection. Amsale's ball gowns, cocktail dresses and evening suits have been featured on the fashion and party pages of all the top fashion magazines, and worn by celebrities and socialites including Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Selma Blair, Salma Hayek, Lucy Liu, Heather Graham, Kim Basinger, Deborah Norville, Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Heidi Klum, Katherine Heigl and many others. Producers turn to Amsale when they need beautiful designs for films and television programs; her gowns have been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "Grey's Anatomy" and "27 Dresses."

Amsale's Madison Avenue boutique, which opened in September 2001, has fulfilled Amsale's desire to present her designs in a setting that reflected her "forever modern" vision. The 5,000 square foot boutique is an urban space with a gallery-like atmosphere that provides a sleek, sophisticated canvas and the perfect backdrop for Amsale's elegant designs. The boutique offers a full range of designs from all of the brands within the Amsale Design Group, including Amsale, Amsale Bridesmaids, Christos and Kenneth Pool. The Kenneth Pool line is designed by Project Runway alum, Austin Scarlett, while Amsale Aberra is the Creative Director for the Amsale and Christos lines.

ABOUT SAHARAN VIBE

Welcome! Karibuni! Isibingelelo! Kushe! Akwaba! to Saharan Vibe. The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it. Saharan vibe will strive to be your source on all that is African bringing African news to a global audience. From Cairo to the Cape of Good Hope, Africa encompasses 53 nations, nearly a billion people and more than 800 distinct ethnic groups. From the arts, the culture, entertainment, politics join me on a safari as we explore a remarkable people and their distinctive way of life and in the celebration of African life.